Australians love a captain’s knock. But they love even more to watch the Poms get thrashed.

Almost 2 million people tuned in to watch
Alastair Cook
’s team struggle into the third session of play on Saturday, according to OzTam figures.

Sunday’s ratings numbers, released on Monday, are expected to bring more good news for host network Nine, as the English batting line-up collapsed when left-handed quickie
Mitchell Johnson
took five wickets and
Michael Clarke
’s team won the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

“In recent years we often haven’t got past three days," said Nine spokesperson
David Hurley
when asked if the end of the Test on the fourth day was a concern for the broadcaster.

“Australia’s dominance after the past two Ashes defeats makes for a fascinating series. It just couldn’t be set up better," he said.

Cricket rights have been an integral part of Nine boss
David Gyngell
’s plan to turn the network around, which in 2012 was buckling under a $3.8 billion debt burden. The commercial free-to-air ­television, ticketing and digital group is scheduled to list on the Australian Stock Exchange on December 6, with a likely market capitalisation of between $1.9 billion and $2.2 billion – which has increased the intensity of this year’s commercial television ratings battle.

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At the time, Mr Gyngell defended the high price saying that cricket “defines our network" and that the sport was “Australia’s wallpaper over ­summer".

Lachlan Murdoch
’s Ten Network has also embarked on a cricket strategy. Ten has paid Cricket Australia $20 million a year to broadcast the domestic Twenty20 Big Bash League.

The five city metro ratings for the first Ashes Test passed 1 million viewers when the Australian bowling attack – lead again by Johnson – tore through the English batting line-up in the third session on ­Friday.

Saturday’s audience swelled through the day, as Clarke and freewheeling opener
David Warner
each made ­centuries. An average of 1.28 million five-city metro viewers watched the second session, as Clarke made his century before he was dismissed for 113.

This grew to 1.3 million in the final session as
Brad Haddin
and Johnson threw their bats around before Clarke declared. Nine is putting a lot of emphasis on its social media engagement for the Ashes, and reported that early indicators showed a healthy take-up across Twitter, live streaming, video and website traffic.